Safety car-control device.



W. V. TURNER.

SAFETY CAR CONTROL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1911.

1,281,437, Patented 001;. 15, 1918.

INVENTOR a'rnr oration.

WALTER V. TURNER, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY CAR-CONTROL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

Control Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car control devices, and more particularly to the dead mans feature, whereby the brakes are automatically applied when the operator removes his hand from the controller handle.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a dead mans control device in which a brake application is not produced when the handle is released in the off position of the controller handle, so that in changing ends or on leaving the car after a run, the brakes will not be applied, provided the handle is first turned to off position.

Insome cases, however, it is very desirable that a brake application be obtained with the handle in off position when thehandle is released, as when the car is in motion and coasting on a grade.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a construction of theabove character which will cause a brake application when the controller handle is released'in any position, but will prevent an application of the brakes when the handle is removed.

In the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a dead mans controller handle device embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 a vertical section.

thereof.

As shown in the drawing, the construction may comprise a handle casing 1, secured to the operating shaft 2 of controller 3 and provided with a pocket 4 within which controller handle 5 is adapted to be inserted.

Secured to the controller 3 is a bracket 6, within which is pivotally mounted a bell crank lever 7, one arm of Which is adapted to engage the stem of a valve 8, adapted when opened, to vent fluid from pipe 9 to an exhaust pipe 10, a reduction in pressure in pipe 9 being adapted to effect an application of the brakes in the well known manner.

The other arm of the bell crank lever 7 has a flange 11 at the outer end extending ment with the flange 11.

around the shaft 2 which is adapted to be engaged by a plunger 12.

A coil spring 13 acts on the plunger 12 and tends to-force the plunger into engage- The controller handle 5 is provided with a forked end 14, the prongs of which are adapted to engage beneath the head 15 of the plunger 12 when in operating position.

Pivoted to the handle 5 is a latch .16 having a hooked end 17 adapted to engage a bolt 18 secured to the casing 1, for locking the handle in position, and the handle is provided with a lug 19 adapted to extend below the bolt 18. i I

In line with the forked end 14 of the handle, and slidably mounted in the casing 1 is a plunger 20 subject to the pressure of a coil spring 21, tending to force the plunger toward the member 12.

In operation, the handle 5 is inserted within the pocket 4, the latch 16 being pushed out of the way by the engagement of the outer inclined face 22 of the hooked end 17 with the bolt 18. The forked end 14 of the handle is passed under the head 15 of member 12 and then engages the plunger 20, pushing the same to the rear against the resistance of spring 21. lVhen the handle is in operating position, the latch 16 drops back by gravity, so as to hook over the bolt 18, the

.spring 21 acting to press the hook 17 against the bolt.

When the handle is depressed by the hand of the operator said handle is rocked about the pivot bolt 18 and thereby the member 12 is held out of engagement with the flange 11, but if the handle is released in any position of the controller, the spring 13 will force the member 12 downwardly and thereby operate the bell crank 7 so as to open valve 8 and vent fluid from pipe 9 to effect an application of the brakes.

When the handle 5 is to be removed, in changing ends or otherwise, the outer endof the latch 16 is raised, while the handle is held depressed, so as to. free the hooked end 17 from engagement with the bolt 18 and as the handle is withdrawn, the plunger 20 follows up, through the action of spring 21,

so that the outer end of the plunger will enoperates to prevent the downward movement of member 12 when the handle 5 is removed, so that an application of the brakes will not be effected at this time.

\Vhen the handle is applied, the plunger :30 is pushed out of engagement with the head 15, thus permitting the operation of the member 12 when the controller handle is released.

If the handle should be removed. without holding same depressed, an application of the brakes would be effected, and the head 15 would be in a position preventing inward movement of the plunger 20. In order to prevent this, a pin 23 is mounted in the casing 1 belowthe handle 5, so that provided the handle is depressed when removed, the path of movement will be unobstructed, but if the handle is not depressed, then a lug 2e on the handle will engage the pin 23 and thus prevent the removal of the handle.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a controller handle and means operated upon release of the handle for efiecting an application of the brakes, of a device operated upon removal of the controller handle for preventing the operation of said means.

2. The combination with a controller handle and 'means operated upon release of the handle for efiecting an application of the brakes, of a device operated by the removal of the controller handle for rendering said means inoperative.

3. The combination with a removable conti'oller handle and means operated upon the release of the controller handle for effecting :an application of the brakes, of a device operated by the removal of the controller handle for locking said means in an inoperative position.

l. The combination with a controller handle and means operated upon release of the controller handle in off position for effecting an application of the brakes, of a device for preventing operation of said means .upon removal of the handle in said position.

5. The combination with a controller handle and means adapted upon operation to elfectan application of the brakes and normally held inoperative by depressing the controller handle, of a device operated upon removal of the controller handle for rendering said means inoperative, and means for preventing the removal of the handle unless the same is depressed.

6. The combination with a controller handle, of a valve, the operation of which is adapted to effect an application of the brakes, a lever device for operating said valve, a member for actuating said lever and normally held inoperative by depressing the controller handle, and a spring pressed devicefor engaging said member to hold same inoperative, and normally held out of engagement by said handle.

7. The combination with a controller handle and a member the operation of which is'adapted to effect an application of the brakes and normally held inoperative by said handle, of a device for engaging said member to hold same inoperative upon re moval of'the controller handle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER V. TURNER. 

